Spain Secures 143 Fishing Days for Mediterranean Fleet in 2026 Despite Initial EU Cuts
Spain successfully negotiates to maintain 143 fishing days for its Mediterranean fleet in 2026 despite initial EU proposals for substantial cuts, securing conservation measures and softer quota reductions.
- • Spain's Mediterranean fleet will keep 143 fishing days in 2026, unchanged from 2025.
- • Initial EU proposal suggested a 64-65% cut in fishing days, down to 9.7 days.
- • Permanent closures on red shrimp trawling below 600 meters and bans below 800 meters were agreed.
- • Cuts for Atlantic species like sole and coalfish were reduced significantly.
- • Minister Luis Planas called the agreement a clear success despite difficult negotiations.
Key details
After intense negotiations lasting over two days, the European Union reached an agreement early Saturday allowing Spain's Mediterranean fishing fleet to maintain 143 fishing days in 2026, the same number as in 2025. This outcome was hailed as a clear success by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Luis Planas, who noted the difficulty of talks due to the European Commission's initially restrictive proposals.
The Commission had originally proposed slashing fishing days by 64-65%, reducing Spanish fishing activity to approximately 9.7 days in 2026 with compensation measures needed to restore days closer to current levels. Spain, alongside Italy and France, pushed back against this, highlighting ongoing sustainability efforts such as selective fishing gear already adopted by over 550 trawlers and the installation of flying doors on nearly 200 vessels.
The final agreement includes conservation measures such as permanent closures on red shrimp trawling at depths shallower than 600 meters and bans on trawling below 800 meters. In addition, reductions on Atlantic species like sole and coalfish were significantly softened, with sole cuts lessened from a proposed 28% to 9%, and coalfish from 26% to 18%. Planas confirmed that no new selective measures are required beyond those implemented last year.
This negotiated balance aims to protect fish stocks while minimizing socio-economic harms to fishermen and shipowners. The minister underscored the sector's commitment to sustainability, praising their efforts and promising further discussions to elaborate on the agreement with industry stakeholders.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
